In dealing with SOE and its associated units (Force 136, STS 101, FMS Volunteer Force, Oriental Mission, British Special Forces, Special List and RAF Special Duties ) it's near-on impossible to confirm, by viewing headstones and memorials, if a particular individual served with such a unit. Indeed: in all the cemeteries I've visited, to-date, in Asia, I've only ever seen 2 SOE names on one memorial (Singapore) and one SOE name on a headstone (Sri Lanka). And, to make matters more complicated, I've wondered, many times, about those 2 terms ''Special List'' and ''General List'', mentioned numerous times on both headstones and memorials - what's all THAT about? Four months ago, someone was kind enough to send me an ebook: Unearthing Churchill's Secret Army - authors Martin Mace & John Grehan - Pen & Sword 2012. I was amazed to find in Chapter 5, Section VIII (pages 403-410) a list of 57 names, and all associated with SOE and Asia. I have now managed to find 57 images, of headstones and memorials, in relation to these 57 men, and would like to share them with you. Note; Images 50 to 57 attached. note following points: The majority of images have been taken by myself, and the remaining ones have been 'credited' to source/photographer etc. There are numerous discrepancies between the book and the CWGC database and, in all cases, I have opted for the CWGC version. Given the background in which these men and women operated, I make no claim as to the accuracy of this data and, as such, feel free to add additional information if you think it's relevant to that particular individual. 50. SOWDEN Alfred Claude Brenton. Serjeant. M.M., Mentioned in Despatches. Born 12th March 1918 and died 7th September 1945. Parent Unit Royal Corps of Signals. SOE, Force 136, F Section, Pedlar Circuit (w/t operator). Face 3, Rangoon Memorial, Myanmar-Burma 51. STUBINGTON William Henry. Second Lieutenant. Born c1887 and died 17th March 1942. Parent Unit General List. Oriental Mission SOE, Stay Behind Party. Taiping War Cemetery, Malaysia 52. TREMLETT Frederick Innes. Lieutenant Colonel. Mentioned In Despatches. Born 5th July 1912 and died 2nd October 1945. Parent Unit General List. Force 136, SOE. Column 113, Singapore Memorial, Singapore 53. TYSON Brian Frank. Captain. Born 20th May 1905 and died 18th January 1943. Parent Unit General List. Oriental Mission SOE, Stay Behind Party. Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore 54. VANRENEN (VAN RENEN) Frank Campbell. Lieutenant. Mentioned In Despatches. Born c1903 and died 18th September 1942. Parent Unit General List. Oriental Mission SOE, Stay behind Party. Column 113, Singapore Memorial, Singapore 55. WARNE Douglas Richard. Private. Born 23rd June 1920 and died 15th December 1944. Parent Unit Australian Infantry. Z Special Unit, Op. Rimau. Column 118, Singapore Memorial, Singapore 56. WARREN Alfred Warren. Warrant Officer Class II. Born 25th January 1913 and died 7th July 1945. Parent Unit Australian Infantry. Z Special Unit, Op. Rimau, Op. Jaywick. Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore 57. WILLERSDORF Jeffrey. Warrant Officer Class II. Born 8th May 1922 and died 15th December 1944. Parent Unit Australian Infantry. Z Special Unit, Op.Rimau, Op.Jaywick. Column 117, Singapore Memorial, Singapore LEST WE FORGET Tony Buckley www.asiawargraves.com
